Yosemite Hetch Hetchy Waterfalls: Video

Last weekend I backpacked in to Rancheria Falls in the Hetch Hetchy region of Yosemite National Park. Is Yosemite ever anything other than incredible?

Wapama Falls crossing:

Rancheria Falls cascade:

More pictures from the backpack.

Uvas Canyon Waterfalls are Running!

I always love to visit Uvas Canyon after the first few rains of the winter season. The waterfalls start running, and the damp air brings out the greens, reds, and oranges in the foliage. The forest feels primitive, like I’m lost in some kind of fairy tale forest (and near the bad queen’s castle).

After last year’s dry spell I was eager to see some running water and Uvas didn’t disappoint. This is a gem of a park that’s a short drive from San Jose.

Here is how the park looks right now… (and if you want to see more, I have a full album from Uvas on smugmug).

In 2008 the Havasu area had a tremendous flood that destroyed some waterfall formations while leaving behind new ones. This is a newcomer to the collection of Havasu waterfalls, and does not even have an official name. The closest I’ve heard is New Indian Falls or New 50-Foot Falls. Whatever the name, it has features that are fun to explore, from a ‘Hot Tub’ to a hurricane cave to a garden of Eden swimming hole.

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Weekend Wallpaper: Mooney Falls

I took this photo on last month’s trip to Havasu Falls. We spent a day wandering down the river and swimming in these beautiful turquoise pools. My camera lens was covered with mist but I still managed to get a few shots.

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Havasuper Time at Havasu Falls: Part 2

Day two of our Havasu adventure was set aside for exploring the area. We started off by spending the morning downstream at Mooney Falls, a side canyon, and a natural water park off the beaten track. After lunch back at the campsite we headed upstream to Hidden Falls, New Indian/New 50-Foot Falls, and New Navajo/Rock Falls. That night we wrapped up the experience with an #omniten group photograph in front of Havasu Falls.
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Return to Pine Valley: The Poison Oakening

Two years ago I did my first backpack in Ventana Wilderness, a quick overnighter to Pine Valley. The weather was horrendous, so I vowed to return when the weather was nice. The waterfall would be particularly inviting on a hot day so I jumped at the chance for a return trip during hotter weather.

I’ll spare the details of the hike since you can find them in my previous trip report. The only thing I have to add is that the plants are finally growing thick again after several years of fire recovery. The blissfully poison oak free hike I experienced two years ago was not the case this time. It was back and growing over the trail in several locations. So beware – the issue that has kept me out of Ventana for years will once again likely keep me from visiting indefinitely.

Since the weather was lovely this time I actually was able to take several pictures. Check out the full album (51 shots) here, or scroll for some highlights. That waterfall is mighty nice. I’ll keep reminding myself how nice it was as I wait to see if I break out in a poison oak rash in the next 48 hours…